Breakthough Prayer

Put today’s devotional into action right away with “19 Ways to Encourage Others”

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” (1 Peter 4:10)

Be intentional today to stand as one loved by God, with purpose and dignity. Reach out in kindness to someone today and feel His love flow to you and through you. God’s love, given generously through you, has a way of coming full circle back to you.

You have much to give! Stand tall! His grace will shelter you and protect you. His grace will fulfill you. His grace will enable you to step forward and not shrink back. His grace will enable you to give CARE even when you desperately want to receive care yourself. His grace is given to you in order to be given away. Let His grace flow to you and through you as you care in the ways He has made you to uniquely show His love. It will fill you up in an unexpected way.

Four ways to show C A R E today:

C – Compassion = concern, kindness, consideration.

As you go through your day today ask God to show you where and how you can show kindness, consideration and concern in a meaningful and simple way to someone on your pathway. When you feel the nudge, take the time to respond. Show consideration.

A – Appreciate

Show appreciation in an intentional and specific way to someone whom the Lord highlights on your radar screen today. Be genuinely appreciative. Say “thanks”.

R – Reach Out

Don’t wait for others to take the first step to greet, speak, say or do something. Be ready to reach out in the moment you become aware of the choice. Go first.

E – Encourage

It costs nothing to say a sincere and encouraging word. Be aware today that you have the power of life and death in your tongue. Bite your tongue when careless words want to spill out. Ask God to fill your mind and heart with His goodness toward others. Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. Use your words to build.

Prayer to help action CARE in your life:

Father God,

Today my heart yearns for love. To answer that yearning, please help me to extend CARE to those in my circle. Let me feel Your lavish love toward me today and help me to pass it out. May consideration, appreciation and encouragement mark my attitudes, words and actions today as I reach out with Your love. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Question: How are you going to show compassion, appreciation, reach out, and encourage someone today?

Does the task you’re facing feel impossible today? We’d love to pray with you. Send us your prayer requests today.

  “Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.” (Matthew 11:28-30, The Message)

The challenge ahead of me is huge and seems impossible. I was asked to serve on the committee that would search for the next pastor of our large church. Our congregation has spiritually prospered under current leadership, but God has called our pastor to another position. We are grappling with our sadness at both the loss of his teaching and the loss of closeness – a deep friendship has grown between us.

This search process will involve long hours of meetings during which we will spend time getting to know each other at deep levels in order to build trust. We will pray, laugh, weep and discuss together.  The paperwork seems mountainous. Hours will be spent reviewing résumés, and talking with candidates. How in the world will this God-given task be accomplished?

While re-reading a small book by Frank Laubach, I came upon a similar situation while he was involved in a seemingly impossible ministry. He writes that if he were asked the chief difficulty in this endeavor, he would have to reply, “No chief difficulty except to keep ready spiritually.”

His words are so simple, so profound. The twelve of us on the search committee need to work hard and with integrity. And we need to keep ready spiritually. We need to walk with Jesus and work with Jesus and learn the unforced rhythms of grace.   If we keep ready spiritually be doing it “the Jesus way” God Himself will take care of the rest.

 Father, You know the impossible things that I am facing today. Remind me that it is all in your hands.  Help me to focus on doing this your way so I can rest in the knowledge that you will make a way for me. Amen.

 Question: Are there areas of your life that seem to be unbearable? Pray that God would help you see it through His eyes and give you ways to walk through it “the Jesus way.”

Mentors are ready to stand with you. Get yours today.

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in [a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:18-19)

It was five am. Twenty young men gathered in the dark of the morning in running shorts and shoes dreading the next twelve minutes of their lives.  The instructions were pretty clear: “You’ve got twelve minutes to run two miles. Go.”

We were athletes, but not professionals, and certainly not runners. It was awful, but we knew that if we all made the time, we would never have to do this again. Twelve minutes later, lungs searing, legs weakening, some of us were still running. To our chagrin, we returned the next morning, and the next, and the next.  We kept at it until every man made the designated time.

Each morning we cheered our slower comrades on until someone got a bright idea: “Get behind them!” Everyone started to clue in. If we all took a few hundred yards and pushed our teammates, even slightly, we could help them remarkably! It was a revolutionary realization.

If we truly want to help someone, it’s best to come alongside him. Encouragement works the same way. Cheering from the sidelines can help somewhat, but physically being there is immeasurably better.

This is not a new idea. It’s ancient! In fact, the original meaning of the word “encouragement” refers to someone who is urging you on, while being close to you. It’s both vocal and proximal – it’s spoken and present. It’s a plea to continue on strong and a hand to help you do it.

Don’t just cheer from the sidelines. Get your hands dirty too. The Holy Spirit, our Comforter, is present with us because we need Him. His presence is life giving. If God has drawn near to us through His Spirit, isn’t it natural that we should be there for others too?

Pray: “Father God, thank You for Your Holy Spirit who is the Comforter. Spirit of God, dwell in me. Give me a love for others that naturally seeks to encourage them. Give me the humility and the confidence to draw near to my neighbor and physically help him in his time of need. Amen.”

Question: How have you been encouraged in the past?

“If thou shall confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shall be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness: and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10, KJV)

Much of the world around us today interprets Christianity with insanity. This is especially true in academic communities. The truth is that as Christians, we are not touched in the head, but in the heart.

When a person gives their heart to Jesus, people should notice a difference on the outside just as we have experienced a difference on the inside. I cannot come to Jesus and not change, because it will alter my lifestyle. I am not ready to live until I am ready to die and I am not ready to die until I know Jesus. One goes from hurting to helping people.

When one gets saved, they become a called person to serve the world and a committed person, committed to the story of the life and death of Jesus. Once saved people should not try to limit the power of Jesus, though the world will tell them to do so. We need to quit playing it safe and step out for Jesus without shame or reservation and when we do that, people will notice.

But sadly, people say no to Jesus because they want to keep enjoying their sin or they don’t want scorn from others. They don’t want to sacrifice or perhaps they are satisfied with their own sufficiency or perhaps they think that accepting Jesus will deny them all the things they think bring happiness into their lives.

Lasting and true happiness can be developed only through obedience to God’s Word, by accepting Jesus’ Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour.

Once you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and you have an intimate relationship with Him, you will enjoy true happiness. Religion does not produce true happiness; but relationship with the Savior does. Only the principles and absolutes from the bible will bring us lasting happiness, joy and satisfaction.

You can rest your hope in Christ, and find your assurance in Jesus because of who He is, and what He has done. It is on this foundation that a happy life will flow continually, even through the most difficult trials in life and when you experience this transformation in your soul on the inside, people are bound to notice a difference on the outside as you become a new creation both inwardly and outwardly.

Question: Are you living out your faith in such a way that people are noticing a difference?

What keeps you up at night? Come talk to a mentor, we’d love to pray with you about it.

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you”.  (1 Peter 5:7)

I love squirrels. Not everyone does, in fact many consider them a pest. But, I have always had an affinity for them. As a child, I’d watch my father feed them pecans on our deck railing. For the last three years of my late husband’s life he and I lived in a new development. The trees were little more than saplings and they attracted no squirrels to our yard. I realized how much I missed watching squirrels frolic.

Moving to an apartment after my husband died was a tough but necessary transition. Outside my window is a common area. The first day I was there, I saw a squirrel. My eyes welled with tears. It was a special sign from my loving Father telling me all would be well. I just knew it. That squirrel stayed around all week, and as I unpacked and settled in, I’d watch it romp and look for fallen acorns. Warm memories would envelop me like a fatherly hug.

The squirrel vanished when the landscapers came with their loud mowers and leaf blowers. But, every now and then when I am feeling a bit low, my squirrel will appear, perched on it haunches, the sun streaming through that fluffy tail. It is as if God is telling me, “I am still here, even when you can’t see Me. I love you.”

In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter six, Jesus explains how God cares for the lilies and the birds. He cares for my squirrel as well, just as He cares for you and me. As I watch the squirrel forage acorns, I realize there are untold blessings I must seek out as well, lest I miss them. Blessings like a small furry creature popping into view just when I need a warm fuzzy feeling to boost my world-worn heart.

Father, Remind me that you see me, and that you are not unaware of my pain. Thank you for the comfort you promise and hope you give both for today and for tomorrow.  Amen.

Question: What is your squirrel?  How does God show you that He cares and is there?

Does God feel hidden from you today? Come talk to a mentor. We’d love to pray with you. 

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” (Matthew 13:44)

Have you ever really wanted something? Craved it? Longed for it so intensely that you willingly gave your time, your money, your energy, your comfort – everything – in order to possess what you wanted? No hurdle too high, no sacrifice too great, nothing else could compare to the object of your desire.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” (Matthew 13:45-46)

Jesus used stories like these to explain the value of the kingdom of heaven. Like the perfect pearl to a collector or hidden treasure to an adventurer, nothing is worth more than God’s kingdom.

Beyond urging us to pursue the kingdom with our entire being, Jesus taught that its great worth should be shared. When you study God’s word and learn about His kingdom you hold a priceless treasure to be displayed to everyone you know.

“[Jesus] said to them, ‘Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.’” (Matthew 13:52)

Seek after the kingdom of heaven with all your heart and strength. Then share its incredible treasure with those around you. Tell them how living in God’s kingdom has changed you. Show them the precious words of Jesus. Display the jewels of hope and forgiveness you’ve discovered.

God in heaven, I want to hunger and thirst for Your kingdom. I want to spend all I am and have in order to gain You. Amen.

Questions: Why is God’s kingdom like a treasure? Is anything keeping you from pursuing Jesus with all you’ve got?

Are you ready for a bold challenge to stand for God? Check out http://thelife.com for a prayer that will change your life.

“For, ‘In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.’ …‘But my righteous one will live by faith.  And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.’  But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.” (Hebrews 10: 37-39)

We met in Starbucks. She was just passing through town and it was a treat to get together in person. As usual, we jumped in at the deep end and wanted to share what God was teaching us these days. As she raised requests I suggested we pray. Quietly, with open eyes, I asked God to meet the needs of her life.

We talked more and then she said she wanted to pray for me. With not so quiet a voice and with eyes pressed closed and hands grasping mine across the table she lifted her heart to our Heavenly Father. And I felt my heart shrink back. Could she pray a little quieter or a little less intensely? I am ashamed to say I felt a twinge of embarrassment enter my heart.

Very shortly after that God put a book in my pathway that challenged just this very thing in my life. In essence I was denying Christ. I thought of Peter and how easy it was for him to deny Jesus on that night of Jesus’ death. Then in my own devotions I read these words,

“For, ‘In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.’…‘But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.’ But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.” (Hebrews 10: 37-39)

It took me by surprise that I could find myself in that same position as Peter found himself in…only I was in Starbucks where there was no threat at all to my faith or my life. How good God is to reveal the very nature of our hearts to us when we feel we are being “faithful” followers. What a challenge it is to grow in our boldness in following our Lord and Savior.

Today, whether you are a quiet Christian, a bold witness, or somewhere in between why not join me in asking God to fill you with a greater boldness and more courage to stand in persevering faith?  One never knows when in this world we will be called upon to stand firm. We need to be determined not to shrink back. God will help us as we ask Him to.

Heavenly Father,

Forgive me for shrinking back when You call me to boldness. May my heart be ever more courageous to stand for You. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Question: How can you express greater boldness and more courage as you walk your Christian life?